I'd like to meet:
MOZART'S SISTER is the story of a little girl born in Austria in 1751 who was a musical genius. Music came as naturally to this little girl as breathing and nothing gave her greater enjoyment than making music: her little hands would fly effortlessly over the keys of her harpsichord, and she was able to write down any tune she heard from memory. She also had an uncanny ability to transform everyday sounds into music, and such was her sensitivity to harmony that a lack of it was enough to give her an upset tummy.
“What a pity she is a girl,†thought her father aware that her sex would preclude her from aspiring to a career as a composer. He decided against allowing her to study the violin, composition and improvisation: it would be a waste of time and money.
Then one happy day the couple’s dreams came true and a son was born. It didn’t take the proud parents long to realise, against all odds, he too was a musical infant prodigy. Their names were Maria Anna (known as Nannerl) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.
Nannerl’s existence has been largely ignored by her brother’s numerous biographers. The only times she is mentioned is to emphasise her brother’s genius when comparing it to her presumed slowness of mind. All the same, ample documentation exists of Nannerl’s extraordinary musical talent. During their childhood the “Mozart Children†performed together as child prodigies. In posters and newspaper articles of the day, it was Nannerl’s name which came first.
We know that Nannerl wrote music, even though none of her compositions has survived to the present day. In his letters to his sister, Mozart makes clear reference to her compositions and encourages her to write more because “your music is beautiful!†We also know Wolfgang greatly appreciated Nannerl’s virtuosity. As an adult, he often asked for her opinion on his music and referred to her as “my sister, the one with real talentâ€.
MOZART'S SISTER is the story of a vibrant 18th century female figure, that nevertheless closely resembles a woman of the modern day. Throughout her life, Nannerl struggles to affirm her own musicality against her extremely controlling father. Even Nannerl’s discovery of love is connected to music: the two men in her life try to prevent her from being a concert pianist or encourage her to go back to it.
The novel flows between historical truth and fiction, tragedy, lightness and humour, feelings, sound and noise. It tells of how the great talent of a woman withers, as she learns from life to change the shape of events and not to complain about having been left in the shade. It is the touching story of a woman who endures a world that she doesn’t belong to, a woman who steps onto the threshold of fame, a woman who has the inner turbulence and conflict of genius.
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Book launches in some Italian cities
Books:
Book launch in Rome, May 2007
Heroes:
Mozart's sister, of course!
